You have a variety of ways to keep your house cool when temperatures outside soar. Air conditioning, fans and even keeping the lights turned off all can help your home stay cool and comfortable. Even if you rely solely on air conditioning for comfort, using a few extra methods can help you make cooling your home more efficient and effective.

Proper Insulation

The right insulation throughout a house can help cool the home down by preventing hot air from the outside to permeate into the home. The insulation also helps keep air conditioned homes at a steady temperature as the chilled air is not seeping out. The main areas that need to be insulated include attached garages, attics and second floors. It is imperative when insulating for the purpose of keeping a house cool that all top floor and exposed areas receive the bulk of the insulation, as heat rises and top areas tend to generate heat which can flow down and through the rest of the house.

Energy Efficient Windows

The right windows can go a long way to ensure the cool air inside of your home does not escape through leaky windows. In addition, energy efficient windows also have a tighter seal and thus keep hot air out. This twofold impact of better windows helps to cool your home down and keep it at a temperature that is comfortable.

Window Coverings

Window coverings can be effective in helping to cool down a house. Closing blinds and curtains to help keep the strong and warm sunshine out of the home will go a long way in keeping temperatures down. This works best when you have your home closed up so that central air conditioning or window units can work better.

Air Movement

Keeping in mind that heat rises is one of the ways you can easily and efficiently cool down your house. One way is to use the naturally cooler air in basements and ground floor areas and move that air throughout the rest of the home. Making sure ceiling fans have their blades spinning counterclockwise will help ensure the cooler air from below is pushed upwards to areas that tend to be warmer. You can also, if you have a basement, place fans at the bottom of the stairs in the basement and blow the cool basement air up the stairs to cool down the rest of the house.

The sophisticated mix at J. Conn Scott includes a green geometric-pattern sofa by Barclay Butera with Ankasa pillows.

The smaller venue for this third-generation family business is a vintage beach house with an enviable locale: one block from the ocean. (The main store is a 35,000-square-foot showroom about 25 miles south in Selbyville, Del.) This high-end home furnishings boutique carries collections from such big-name designer lines as Ralph Lauren, Baker, Henredon and Hickory Chair. You'll find items from upholstery, tables, desks and chests to lighting, artwork, accessories and gifts.

The look is a sophisticated mix of traditional, comfortable and coastal, with an occasional antique to add a little patina. I found a set of cocktail napkins embroidered with turtles ($25 for a set of six), a pair of soft pink wicker dining chairs with off-white upholstered cushions ($227 each) and an antique distressed-pine wine-tasting table from Belgium ($1,500).

Every Tuesday three rooms of the Rehoboth Beach shop are rearranged and refurnished with pieces from the main store, says in-house designer Lisa Fulton. That way, she says, "when people visit the beach for the weekend, there's always something new and different."

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You have a variety of ways to keep your house cool when temperatures outside soar. Air conditioning, fans and even keeping the lights turned off all can help your home stay cool and comfortable. Even if you rely solely on air conditioning for comfort, u...